Exclusive: original storyboards for the Ashes to Ashes video, left, and Diamond Dogs sketch, preparatory drawings for an unrealised film set in Hunger City (David Bowie Archive)

Before shooting the video in 1980, Bowie presented a series of sketches with his visions of how it should look to David Mallet, the director.

One of Bowie’s felt-tip illustrations shows his “Pierrot” clown character submerged in the sea, a scene that appears exactly as drawn in the video, which cost £25,000 – the most expensive music video ever filmed at the time.

Another item from the archive that will be on display for the first time is a sketch for Bowie’s ground breaking Diamond Dogs tour in 1974, showing his designs for “Hunger City”, the dystopian setting that was created onstage.

Bowie had originally wanted to make a musical film adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984, but did not receive the film rights, and instead adapted his vision for the film set into the stage designs for the tour.

Victoria Broackes of the V&A’s Theatre and Performance department, who is co-curating the show, said: “These are among the most exciting exhibits because they show Bowie’s extraordinary creativity and breadth of interests.”

Featuring more than 60 of Bowie’s notoriously flamboyant costumes created for his fictionalised stage personas, the show will include the multicoloured Ziggy Stardust bodysuit that he wore for the seminal performance of Starman on Top of the Pops in 1972.

Bowie, 66, will release his first new album in more than 10 years next month to coincide with the exhibition.

* David Bowie is, at the V&A from March 23 to July 28, in partnership with Gucci, sound experience by Sennheiser

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